What Royal Caribbean Passengers Wish They Knew Before Booking Their Cruises

It's not uncommon for major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, to make changes when necessary. In 2025, Royal Caribbean stopped visiting Haiti over safety fears. The cruise line, along with several others, also banned a popular destination in Alaska due to dangerous conditions. But it's not occasional itinerary adjustments that caused frustration among passengers recently. Guests of Royal Caribbean say the cruise line failed to announce ahead of time that certain attractions would be closed on some of their most popular ships.

Two of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, boast massive onboard waterparks called Category 6. Spanning 17,010 square feet with six record-breaking slides, Category 6 is a highlight that many guests look forward to. Among the attractions is the Ultimate Abyss, "the tallest slide at sea," according to Royal Caribbean. But passengers say that some of the slides on the Icon-class ships were closed during recent voyages — a crucial update they would have liked to know before booking their vacation. In a Fox News article published on April 23, 2026, Royal Caribbean explained that the closures are due to maintenance. 

Guests have taken to social media to share their complaints. "What's been frustrating isn't just the closures — it's the complete lack of transparency," said an Icon of the Seas passenger on Reddit. "I've spoken to other passengers, and many of them also booked this cruise specifically for the water park, so it's clearly not just me being picky — this is a major advertised feature of the ship." One commenter added, "People pay more and book those specifically for things like the slides which are advertised. So, yes, disappointing."

Waterslide closures are not new to Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. In August 2025, an acrylic glass panel on a waterslide broke off mid-ride, leading to injuries. A widely shared video showed water pouring from the damaged slide as passengers yelled for help. "Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide," said Royal Caribbean in a statement about the incident to Global News. "The guest is being treated for his injuries."

As for the more recent waterslide closures, the reason remains unclear. Royal Caribbean Blog, an unofficial "fan blog" not affiliated with the cruise line, obtained a statement from a Royal Caribbean representative. "While we can't share specific details or timelines, efforts are ongoing with a strong focus on the overall guest experience," reads the statement shared in the blog post. 

Though frustrating, some Reddit users say that advance notice is not guaranteed when it comes to cruise ship attractions, and guests may not be compensated for closures. "Read all the fine print on your agreement when you bought the tickets," one comment reads. "This is the risk of booking any ship for any specific amenity," says another. Passengers should think twice before making assumptions about their cruise ship vacation and the amenities offered, as they may not always live up to expectations.